4200 air filter problem

[rotor-g]

These are pictures of the air filter from our 4200 after 6000 miles.

Can anyone say if their filters look like this when they are serviced?

 

[CatmanV2]

Mine did. But I rather assumed that it hadn't been serviced.

I'm guessing the one Feli removed after this year (8k) wasn't like that.
C

 

[voicey]

Is that 6,000 miles since you changed the filter or 6,000 miles since it was last serviced?

I've seen plenty of F-cars come out of main dealers where the air filters have not been touched - I would guess you've paid for a filter that hasn't been replaced. Sadly, there are dealerships out there which pay their mechanics on a piece rate so it pays them to cut corners.

 

[hodroyd]

That looks well old and moth eaten, I would say a lot more than 6K miles mate, it's totally knackered..!!

 

[BennyD]

It could be a 6k filter, but only if you park it in a salt mine and only do 500 miles a year. Otherwise some grease monkey has been a bit naughty.

 

[Mr.Cambio]

Are you sure the filter was replaced before 6k?

OR......

be sure not to drive on roads with full water: The airbox is very low, and this can cause damage more than one filter..

 

[rotor-g]

The dealer says he replaced the filter and that he is not surprised that it looks like this after 6k miles. We do not live in a salt mine and since this may be the cause of an engine rebuild it is very serious
.

 

[CatmanV2]

I doubt that would be the cause of a rebuild, unless it had shed pieces internally. Throttle your engine, though, for sure.

Of course, I could be totally wrong

C

 

[hodroyd]

I have taken air filters out with double that mileage and in a lot better condition than that, I would suspect it has not been changed..!! Which "Dealer" is it..??

 

[rotor-g]

PM me and I will pass on their name.

Number 3 cylinder has no compression and makes a nasty noise.

It is suggested that the blocked filter caused the engine to suck in oil and cause detonation on a cylinder.

 

[hodroyd]

Sounds like a valve has maybe gone then..?? Is there any make stamped on the filter..?? If you asked the opinion of a filter manufacturer, I can more, or less guarantee they would say the same as me and I used to be in the business inspecting claims on filtration issues..!! The mesh has just rotted away by the look of it and yet the paper element has sort of survived, mesh does not rust away that quick..!! How long is it since it was supposed to have been changed..??

 

[BennyD]

The dealer is mistaken or, er, not telling the whole truth. I have never seen an air filter as bad as that. Have a word with Marios at Autoshield and see what he says. His mechanics change these things every day and Marios is very sharp at assessing damage claims.

 

[CatmanV2]

PM me and I will pass on their name.

Number 3 cylinder has no compression and makes a nasty noise.

It is suggested that the blocked filter caused the engine to suck in oil and cause detonation on a cylinder.

Not sure where it would have sucked oil from, but if it was that bad, I'd have expected the engine to not run. Again, could be utterly wrong though. It just doesn't logical based on what I *do* know about engines.

C

 

[conaero]

No way thats a 6k mile filter, they have not been replaced for years.

As they are a pig to fit, many garages simply don't bother.

The way to tell is kneel down in front to the passenger front headlight and look up the splitter. You can clearly see the filter up the snorkel.

 

[BennyD]

If it was oil ingestion, I would half expect more than 1 cylinder to be affected. Also, you have to appreciate that some dealers will duck and dive to avoid paying for an engine rebuild especially if it was his garage that was responsible for 'replacing' the air filter.

 

[rotor-g]

cylinder 2 and 3 are not well. The filter was changed 2 years ago and 6300 miles have been covered. The car was in storage so missed an annual service. next job is to take the head off....

 

[hodroyd]

If it was stored in a foot of water, then that could be the issue, but guessing not, the filter is older than that..!!

 

[BennyD]

I've just spoken with Marios and he says that is definitely not a 6000 mile filter. If you give him a bell (0161 881 3463) he said he will talk you through it and your options from here.

Apparently some mechanics are afraid of taking the screws out of the airbox cover as they can seize and break off the plastic brackets. It's happened to two of mine and the solution is to replace the screws with stainless and plenty of grease on reassembly.

 

[hodroyd]

And so say all of us..!!

 

[safrane]

One of the reasons I only trust Emblem to service my car. They take photos of the work in progress and the empty air-filter box and removed filters. I have the car serviced every year by them and the removed filters look quite new after 6k.